Animal-trap.



No. 848,295. PATENTED MAR-26,1907.

J. DUBOIS.

'- ANIMAL TRAP.

AAAAAAAAA ONPILED DEO.20, 1906.

WIli VESSES: I ENTOR JAMES MADISON DUBOIS, OF BAGWELL, TEXAS.

ANIMAL-TRAP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 26, 1907.

Application filedDecember 20, 1906. Serial No. 348,796.

To (bZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMEs MADIsoN DU- 13018, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Bagwell, in the county of Red River and State ofTexas, have invented a new and useful Animal-Trap, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to animal-traps, and has for its object toprovide an improved bait or choker trap wherein the bait is inaccessibleexcept by passing between the jaws of the trap, whereby any attempt tosecure the bait will result in the springing of the trap and thecatching of the animal between the jaws in a very prompt and efiicientmanner.

A further object of the invention is to enable the convenient baitingand setting of the trap without danger of being caught by the jaws andto positively insure the release of the spring-actuated jaw upon anyattempt to remove the bait.

With these and other objects in view the present invention consists inthe combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter morefully described, shown in the accompanying drawings, and particularlypointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes inthe form, proportion, size, and minor details may be made within thescope of the claims without departing from the spirit or sacrificing anyof the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of an animal-trapembodying the fea tures of the present invention. Fig. 2 is across-sectional view thereof in the vertical plane of the trigger, asindicated by the line 2 2 of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of thebait-receptacle, the jaws being removed. Fig. 4 is a detail perspectiveview of one terminal of the stationary jaw, showing the chain foranchoring the trap to the ground.

Like characters of reference designate corresponding parts in all of thefigures of the drawings.

The present trap includes a lower stationary jaw 1 in the nature of awooden beam or sill of suitable length. Each end of this jaw is providedwith a chain 2, preferably connected to the beam by means of a staple 3,the free end of the chain terminating in a ring or relatively large link4, adapted to receive a post or stake 5, which is driven into theground, so as to anchor the trap.

Above the stationary jaw 1 there is a vertically-swinging jaw 6, also inthe nature of a beam, one end of the upper jaw being connected to theadjacent end of the stationary jaw by means of a hinge 7. The upper jawis somewhat shorter than the lower jaw and is provided with a verticall-disposed longitudinal slot 8, receiving a post 9, rising from thestationary jaw and constituting a guide for the movable jaw and alsooperating to take lateral strain from the hinge 7.

Upon the top of the movable jaw there is a spring 10, one end of whichis secured to the movable jaw and the other free end being bowed overtoward the free end of the jaw and suitably connected with the upper endof the post 9. One manner of connecting the spring with the postconsists in providing the free end of the spring with a bifurcation toreceive the post, the free end of the spring being engaged beneath a pin12, passing transversely through the post, with its opposite endsconstituting shoulders or'projections for engagement by the spring. Thetendency, of the spring is to force the movable jaw 6 downwardly againstthe stationary jaw 1.

At one side of the trap and rigidly secured to the stationary jaw 1 is abait-receptacle 13, which is closed throughout all sides except itsfront, which is entirely open anddirected toward the jaws. The top 14 ofthe receptacle is connected to the back of the latter by a hinge 15, soas to give convenient access to the interior of the receptacle. Asuitable hook or latch 16 is employed to hold the cover closed.

The means for holding the spring-pressed jaw 6 in an elevated positionis contained within the bait-receptacle and includes a pair ofupstanding reversely-disposed hooks 17 and 18, rising from the bottom ofthe receptacle, the bill of the hook 17 being directed away from thejaws and that of the hook 18 being directed toward the j awsu In frontof one of the hooks, preferably the one designated 1 7, there is a postor standard 19, rising from the bottom of the receptacle and provided inits upper end with a bifurcation 20,

in which is fulcrumed a vertically-swinging trigger 21, the forward endof which is de- 22, formed in the under side of the movable jaw 6, whilethe rear end of the trigger engages beneath a horizontally-disposed baitstick or holder 26, which is engaged beneath the bills of the hooks 17and 18. As the hooks prevent upward movement of the baitholder, thetrigger is likewise held against movement and in turn supports themovable jaw 6 in its elevated and set position.

When the tra has been set, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2 o the drawings,it of course being understood that a suitable piece of bait has beenimpaled upon the pointed bait stick or holder 23, to have access to thebait the animal must pass in between the jaws, and when the bait ispulled upon by the animal the bait holder or stick 23 is of coursepulled out from beneath the hook 18, whereupon the bait-holder isreleased, the trigger is released, and the movable jaw will be sprungdownwardly by the spring 10, thereby catching the animal between the twojaws, which will ordinarily result in the breaking. of the neck of theanimal.

To prevent upward movement of the movable jaw after it has been sprung,there is provlded a toothed post or standard 24, rising from thestationary jaw, with its toothed side adjacent the free end of themovable jaw, which free end is provided with an upright bifurcation 25to receive the post 24 when the jaw moves downwardly. Upon the top ofthe free end of the movable jaw there is a suitable spring-latch 26,which wipes over the toothed portion of the standard 24, and therebyeffectually prevents upward movement of the jaw 6, and consequentlyprevents the animal from becoming released by his struggles.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. Ananimal-trap comprising a bait-recep tacle which is open at its front, astationary jaw across the lower portion of the open front of thereceptacle, a vertically-movable jaw working across the open front ofthe receptacle above the stationary jaw, a trigger mounted within thereceptacle for supporting the movable jaw in an elevated position, and abait-holder mounted within the receptacle and removably associated withthe trigger to hold the latter in its jaw-support1ng position.

2. An animal-trap comprising a bait-receptacle having an open front, astationary jaw across the lower portion of the open front, avertically-movable jaw working across the open front of the receptacleabove the stationary jaw, a vertically-swinging trigger mounted withinthe receptacle and disposed signed to be received within a seat or notchfor supporting the movable jaw in an ele vated position, a pair ofreversely-disposed upright hooks within the receptacle, and a bait-stickfor detachable engagement with the hooks and the trigger.

3. An animal-trap comprising a bait-receptacle which is open at itsfront, a stationary jaw across the lower portion of the open front ofthe receptacle, a vertically-movable jaw working across the front of thereceptacle and above the stationary jaw, a post within the receptacle, atrigger pivoted intermediate of its ends upon the post with its frontend disposed for supporting the movable jaw in an elevated position,reversely-disposed hooks rising from the bottom of the receptacle, and abait-stick removably engaged with the hooks and engaging across the up-.per side of the rear end portion of the trigger.

4. An animal-trap comprising a lower stationary jaw, an upright movablejaw provided with an upright opening, a guide-post rising from thestationary jaw and passing through the opening in the movable jaw, aspring bearing in opposite directions against the movable jaw and thepost to depress the jaw, and a trigger mechanism for supporting themovable jaw against the tension of the spring.

5. An animal-trap comprising a stationary jaw, a movable jaw having anopening, a post carried by the stationary jaw and extending through theopening in the movable jaw, trigger mechanism for supporting the movablejaw, projections extending at opposite sides of the post, and a bowedspring carried by the movable jaw with its free end bifurcated tostraddle the post and engaging the projections thereof.

6. An animal-trap comprising a stationary jaw, a movable jaw cooperatingtherewith,

* trigger mechanism for supporting the movable jaw and means to preventmovement of the movable jaw away from the stationary jaw after the traphas been sprung.

7. An animal-trap comprising a stationary jaw, a movable jaw, triggermechanism for supporting the movable aw and ratchet mechanism to preventmovement of the movable jaw away from the'stationary jaw after the traphas been sprung.

8. An animal-trap. comprising a stationary jaw, a movable jaw, triggermechanism for supporting the movable jaw, a rack carried by thestationary jaw, and a springlatch carried by the movable jaw incooperative relation with the rack to lock the movable jaw after thetrap has been sprung.

9. An animal-trap comprising a bait-receptacle which is open at itsfront, a stationary jaw carried by the front of the trap and projectingat opposite sides thereof, a mov- IIO able jaw hinged to the stationaryjaw and holder movably mounted in the receptacle working across thefront of the receptacle, a and engaging the trigger to lock the samepost rising from the stationary aw and passwhen the trap is set. ingthrough the movable aw, a spring car- In testimony that I claim theforegoing as l5 ried by the movable j aw and bearing against 1 my own Ihave hereto aflixed my signature in the post tofideprelss the movableaw, a rackthe presence of two Witnesses.

ar risin om t 1e stationary jaw, a s rin t latch car iied by the movablejaw and ass d- JAMES MADISON DUBOIS' ciated with the rack, a triggermounted Within the bait-receptacle for supporting the movable jaw in anelevated position, and a bait- Witnesses:

A. L. JoNEs, C. STEPHENS.

